Five arrested for abusing hunting permit

 By Olivia Miwil - March 6, 2022 @ 7:03pm

A joint enforcement team seized carasses and hunting equipment during a roadblock operation. - Picture courtesy of Sabah Wildlife Department.

PAITAN: Five men have been arrested for hunting more than their permitted quota of wildlife in a joint operation between the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Sabah Forestry Department's Enforcement, Tactical, Operational and Protection squad, also known as the PROTECT unit.

The men were in a four-wheel drive vehicle when they were stopped at a roadblock after the integrated enforcement team got wind of hunting activities that contravened the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 in the district.

Enforcement personnel found two animal carcasses, believed to be deer, as well as hunting equipment in the vehicle storage area.

The men, aged between 50 and 55, were detained to assist in the investigation.

The case will be investigated under Section 25 Sub-section 2 (b), which is to hunt in excess of the quota specified in the hunting licence.

If found guilty, the accused person can receive a fine of RM50,000 to RM100,000 or imprisonment of not less than six months or not more than five years, or both.

This case will be investigated by the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga advised the public not to carry out hunting activities without a valid hunting licence issued by the department.

Licensed hunters are also advised to abide by the conditions stated in the licence such as the validity period of the hunt, the hunting area and the number of animals to be hunted.

Strategic cooperation efforts between the PROTECT team of the Forestry Department and the Wildlife Department will be continued to combat illegal hunting and wildlife exploitation, especially in forest reserves.